This brief analysis is a demonstration about the number of animal infections with the rabies virus [1] in Greece. The period of interest is between October 2012 and November 2013 where the last infected animals were recorded.

Until now (end of November 2013) there were 37 records of animals [2] mostly in the north Greece. There are also few outbreaks of the virus in the north-central Greece, but the main problem located on the north part of the country, closely to the FYROM-Bulgarian boarders. (Picture2)

The virus

Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals.  The disease is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans from another species (such as dogs), commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. [3]

Expansion

The virus has expanded from some few infections in the beginning, to an outbreak a year later (Picture1, Picture2). The most infected animals that are recorded are red foxes, the most spread of the Vulpes species, carnivores, which live in woodlands and in woodland-like areas near to residential areas.  [4]

Another reason of the outbreak might be government’s delay to start spreading vaccine baits, a year after the first infected animal recordings.

The following pictures show the region where animals have been spotted

Picture1 shows the region of the infected animals recorder in October to November 2012.

Picture 2 shows the spread of the infected animals from the beginning of the recordings to November 2013.

Plot1 shows the rising of the recorded outbreaks.

Refences:

 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies_virus 

2)  http://www.keelpno.gr/el-gr/%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%B8%CE%AD%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82/%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BC%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1/%CE%B6%CF%89%CE%BF%CE%BD%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%BF%CE%B9/%CE%BB%CF%8D%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B1.aspx

3)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies
 
 4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_fox